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Carlos Sainz opened Miami Grand Prix week with a live fan Q&A at Wynwood Marketplace as Williams put its entire Fan Fest launch behind its new star. With the team searching for a 2026 performance reset, the Miami pop-up was a brilliant moment for fans to chat with their favourite drivers ahead of a difficult weekend.
On the Wednesday ahead of the Miami Grand Prix at Racing Fan Fest at Wynwood Marketplace, Carlos took to the stage at 6pm for an exclusive live Q&A to open the week , and Williams effectively built its entire opening night around him.
The wider Swarm Fan Fest stayed closed until Thursday, with Wednesday’s early opening exclusively for Carlos’s appearance.
Calling that a soft launch is generous. It was a Sainz launch with a fan zone attached.
Williams ended the 2025 season strongly, with Sainz twice on the podium and a top-three finish in the Texas sprint, but the comedown this year has been abrupt, with both Alex Albon and the Spaniard regularly struggling to escape Q1 and ahead only of Aston Martin and new team Cadillac in the constructors’ standings.
The car that closed last year on a high note has spent the opening rounds of the 2026 regulation reset somewhere near the back of the midfield, and Sainz has been blunt about why.
“Honestly, we have a lot of weight to lose, it’s no secret,” Sainz said earlier this month. “Would it be a good car [if we got the weight down]? I think we can do better. Apart from the weight, I believe this team has the potential to design and produce a car that is much better than what we’ve done.”
He’s also been clear that Miami is where the recovery has to start, telling reporters
“I expect that the team will do a big push over the month to come up with something for Miami which is a good step forward.”
When asked which driver he would swap with if he could, he fairly pointed at the drivers with the fastest car: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
“Well… with the one… with one of the two Mercedes,” he said. “Who I think are going to surely win the race on Sunday.
“But if not… I don’t know.”
At this point the fans were shouting ‘Lando’ at the Spaniard.
“Or with Oscar and like that…” he answered them with a smile. “A ‘Carlando’ reunion right there.
“No, I’m happy at Williams. I’m staying at Williams,” he said as the crowd cheered loudly at his Carlando comment.
The Fan Zone runs through Sunday 03 May at Wynwood Marketplace, with opening hours stretching well into the evening across the weekend.
Inside, fans get the now-standard mix of a full-size FW48 show car, hands-on aerodynamics demos, the Miami merchandise drop from New Era, partner activations including a Zoox vehicle on display, the Barclays pit stop challenge, the Komatsu haul truck simulator, and a gaming zone with Miami International Autodrome sims.
Then there’s the Marvel tie-in, which is the kind of thing F1 teams now do without anyone blinking.
A special comic book one-shot will star Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz and Team Principal James Vowles as they face their biggest challenge yet, a battle with Doctor Doom, with support from iconic heroes including Iron Man, Black Widow and Captain America.
The cover and a Marvel mural are on display at the Fan Zone for the duration.
The other Q&As – Luke Browning, James Vowles and Damon Hill – all run on Thursday afternoon and evening, with attendees needing to download the Williams app and pre-register.
Continue reading...
On the Wednesday ahead of the Miami Grand Prix at Racing Fan Fest at Wynwood Marketplace, Carlos took to the stage at 6pm for an exclusive live Q&A to open the week , and Williams effectively built its entire opening night around him.
The wider Swarm Fan Fest stayed closed until Thursday, with Wednesday’s early opening exclusively for Carlos’s appearance.
Calling that a soft launch is generous. It was a Sainz launch with a fan zone attached.
Why Williams Is Leaning This Hard on Sainz in Miami
Williams ended the 2025 season strongly, with Sainz twice on the podium and a top-three finish in the Texas sprint, but the comedown this year has been abrupt, with both Alex Albon and the Spaniard regularly struggling to escape Q1 and ahead only of Aston Martin and new team Cadillac in the constructors’ standings.
The car that closed last year on a high note has spent the opening rounds of the 2026 regulation reset somewhere near the back of the midfield, and Sainz has been blunt about why.
“Honestly, we have a lot of weight to lose, it’s no secret,” Sainz said earlier this month. “Would it be a good car [if we got the weight down]? I think we can do better. Apart from the weight, I believe this team has the potential to design and produce a car that is much better than what we’ve done.”
He’s also been clear that Miami is where the recovery has to start, telling reporters
“I expect that the team will do a big push over the month to come up with something for Miami which is a good step forward.”
When asked which driver he would swap with if he could, he fairly pointed at the drivers with the fastest car: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
“Well… with the one… with one of the two Mercedes,” he said. “Who I think are going to surely win the race on Sunday.
“But if not… I don’t know.”
At this point the fans were shouting ‘Lando’ at the Spaniard.
“Or with Oscar and like that…” he answered them with a smile. “A ‘Carlando’ reunion right there.
“No, I’m happy at Williams. I’m staying at Williams,” he said as the crowd cheered loudly at his Carlando comment.
What Else Williams Is Rolling Out for the Race Week
The Fan Zone runs through Sunday 03 May at Wynwood Marketplace, with opening hours stretching well into the evening across the weekend.
Inside, fans get the now-standard mix of a full-size FW48 show car, hands-on aerodynamics demos, the Miami merchandise drop from New Era, partner activations including a Zoox vehicle on display, the Barclays pit stop challenge, the Komatsu haul truck simulator, and a gaming zone with Miami International Autodrome sims.
Then there’s the Marvel tie-in, which is the kind of thing F1 teams now do without anyone blinking.
A special comic book one-shot will star Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz and Team Principal James Vowles as they face their biggest challenge yet, a battle with Doctor Doom, with support from iconic heroes including Iron Man, Black Widow and Captain America.
The cover and a Marvel mural are on display at the Fan Zone for the duration.
The other Q&As – Luke Browning, James Vowles and Damon Hill – all run on Thursday afternoon and evening, with attendees needing to download the Williams app and pre-register.
Continue reading...
